The King Carried The Cheese

PP0231 DATE

THE KING CARRIED THE CHEESE!

1 Samuel 17:12-22.

1Sa 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

“Take their pledge” – was to bring back a token of their welfare, their health. Namely, to report how they were doing in battle.

INTRODUCTION: David was the youngest son of Jesse. He had eight sons totaled. David was just a teenager at this time. No one would have ever suspected the mission of which David would someday be called to fill – the King of Israel. He had already been anointed king back in chapter 16. The anointing gave him the position, but did not provide the qualification. There were a few things David had to do before he would be king material. He had to prove himself. The basis of proof is not man made, but made of and for God. God already knows what a person will do. He knows whether that person will be qualified to fulfill any certain calling. He wants the individual to go through each step of proof to himself.

I. HE PROVED HIMSELF AT HOME FIRST.

Let me give you three thought about this:

A. He Was Obedient To His Father. The father was concerned about the welfare of the other three sons who were in battle. Normally a battle such as was taking place was not of long duration, but just a few days. The members of the army were usually voluntary. Thus Jesse’s sons themselves were part of Saul’s army.

Jesse wanted David to go and take food to his three sons, David’s older brothers. The younger son is helping care for the older. You would almost have to think that God is putting David in a position for some experience that will be needed in years to come. It is not a normal responsibility for the younger to care for the older; but the opposite.

B. He Was Thorough In His Plans.

1. He left the sheep in the care of another Vs. 20. (1 Sam 17:20 KJV) "And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper,…..” David had to find someone that he could trust to take care of the sheep in his absence. The sheep was his responsibility and he was not going to leave them unattended.

How many teens would have seen to the welfare of the sheep before leaving? That doesn’t sound much like the actions of a teen from today’s society.

2. He made sure his carriage was properly parked Vs. 22. (1 Sam 17:22 KJV) "And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren."

This young man has character. He has accepted his responsibility of caring for sheep, and that same spirit spread over into other areas of responsibility.

If one thing is lacking in the home education it is that of instilling responsibility. Parents make your children participate in home responsibility. Give them chores around the house and hold them to it. Don’t let them off. Start when they are toddlers. You can teach a toddler to pick up a piece of trash and take it to the garbage can. Everyone must have responsibility. Don’t pay them for everything. There are some responsibilities they should do because they bear the family name. My dad always told me, “You are a Casteel therefore, you will help bare the Casteel burdens.”

He proved himself at home by being obedient to his father – by being thorough in his plans – and:

C. He Was Servant To His Siblings.

1. The brothers scoffed him. (1 Sam 17:28 KJV) "And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."